Microsoft 365 is a powerful business platform, and for many businesses its licensing represents a significant IT investment. Yet, our research indicates that the average Australian business utilises less than 10% of the platform’s features, leaving substantial value on the table.
Think about it for a moment – you wouldn’t buy a high-end piece of equipment and let most of it sit idle. Yet that’s effectively what’s happening when M365’s capabilities go underutilised.
It’s therefore a question of whether your investment is working as hard as you are.
The Missed Opportunity
Most businesses treat Microsoft 365 as a tool for operational tasks – emails, collaboration, identity management, file storage and the like. These are necessary, of course, but they deliver what can be referred to as ‘table stakes’ – the bare minimum you need to stay in the game.
The real opportunity lies in M365’s ability to deliver high value outcomes. The platform includes a plethora of tools and apps that aren’t just extras, but rather engines for efficiency and innovation.
Imaging automating time-consuming workflows, gaining clarity through data-drive insights, or quickly deploying tailored applications that address your business’ specific challenges.
If your current M365 utilisation is focused on the basics, you’re not just missing features – you’re missing leverage. In the words of Warren Buffet, “in business, leverage creates value”.
Unlocking Business Potential
Like any platform, Microsoft 365’s value grows exponentially when used strategically. Here are some low hanging opportunities for high value outcomes utilising your M365 subscription:
Streamlining Processes: Power Automate can turn labour-intensive workflows into hands-free operations. That’s not just time saved – it’s dollars saved.
Customising Solutions: PowerApps allows businesses to address problems in way off-the-shelf software can’t. Tailored solutions deliver precision and control, M365 enables rapid deployment of these applications.
Data Driven Decisions: Power BI makes it a breeze to start the numbers working for you across multiple data silos. Whether it’s improving margins or identifying growth opportunities, actionable insights are what separates good businesses from great ones.
The above are just a sample of the higher value features of M365 – these features aren’t luxuries, they are necessities for staying competitive. When you start utilising the M365 platform as a strategic asset, the return on investment becomes clear – and substantial.
Why Most Businesses Fall Short
Given the upside, why aren’t Australian businesses driving further utilisation of the platform?
Awareness: Many leaders simply don’t know what M365 is capable of beyond the basics – you can’t use tools you don’t know exist.
Skills: Advanced features require a certain level of technical expertise, combined with a strategic understanding of business processes. Most teams, and external IT service providers, don’t have both.
- Strategy: Without a clear plan, even the best tools can feel disjointed. Defining a strategic approach will enable you to build out cohesive systems that drive results.
So in reality, the ability to capitalise on the higher value features of M365 platform is only as good as the strategy behind its use. Treating it like a utility rather than a platform for innovation limits its value – and your business’ growth potential.
Are You Wasting Money?
Like any investment, Microsoft 365 licensing is meant to deliver returns. If your business isn’t leveraging its full potential, the question you need to ask is simple: ‘Are we getting what we are paying for?”.
Using M365 only for basic operational functionality while ignoring its advanced capabilities is like owning a fleet of trucks, but only using them for storage. The asset is there, but it’s not being deployed to create value.
The cost of underutilisation isn’t measured just in missed opportunities, it also translates to losses in competitive advantage. Businesses that adopt M365 strategically will drive efficiencies and uncover insights that others simply can’t match.
A Practical Question
What would it look like if your Microsoft 365 investment was to work harder for your business?
Take stock of where you are today. Look at how you’re using the platform, and ask yourself whether it’s aligned with your goals. The opportunities are there – you just have to decide if you’re ready to capture them.
